George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

128 GEORGE WHITEFIELD
ever you get the upper hand) to oppose and persecute all that differ from
you in their Church government, or outward way of worshipping God ?
Our dear brother and fellow-labourer, Mr. Gilbert Tennent, thinks this
will be the consequence, and said he would write to you about it. As for
I my own part (though I profess myself a member of the Church of England).
/ I am of a catholic spirit ; and if I see a man who loves the Lord Jesus in
»/' sincerity, I am not very solicitous to what outward communion he belongs.'
His fears about opposition, if not about persecution, proved
only too true ; he himself was to get no small share of it.
The denominational spirit and the spirit catholic clashed as
soon as ever they met.
To get again upon his track southwards. Once away from
White Clay Creek and William Tennent's hospitality, he had
a ride through forest, swamp, and partially cleared country,
seeing and sharing in the life of the sparse population which
lay scattered along his route. Gentlemen were as glad to
show kindness to travellers, where few human beings were
to be seen, as travellers were to receive it ; and thus the
private house— generally that of a military man—was as often
the resting-place for the night as the tavern. But taverns were
a welcome lodge, though noisy guests might sleep in the next
room, or the bed be made in the kitchen ; for sometimes the
way was dangerous enough to gratify anybody with a Robinson
Crusoe nature—the evening wolves would come out and howl
like a kennel of hounds round the travellers. Odd meetings
with people who had some connection with the old country,
and whose talk could pleasantly recall the past, now and
again happened. The congregations were like everything
else ; now a handful of forty, now a hundred in place of the
usual twenty, now the family whose hospitality was being
enjoyed, and now a stray visitor who came in nobody knew
how, and in every case the Negroes of the house were got
together.